LeicaLeica is a camera produced by a German company of the same name. The company, formerly Ernst Leitz Gmbh, is now three companies: Leica Camera AG, Leica Geosystems AG, and Leica Microsystems AG, which produce cameras, geosurvey equipment and microscopes, respectively. Leica Microsystems AG is the owner of the Leica brand, and grants licenses to Leica Camera AG and Leica Geosystems. Leica camera history - "The grandfather of 35 mm photography"The Leica 0, a modern reedition of the original Leica The Leica I, 1925, 1:3,5 The Leica I, 1925, 1:3,5 The Leica II, 1932, with integrated telemeter Leica IIIf (1950), one of the last screw-mount Leicas, with 50 mm/f1.5 Summarit Leica's evolutionary design is evident comparing the 2003 MP and the 1954 M3 Modern Leica M series The Leica Visoflex II (1960) Leica's answer to the SLR; a Leica Visoflex II on Leica IIIf with 65 mm f/3.5 Elmarit The Leica R4 (1980) introduced the shape of the Leica SLR throughout most of the 1980s and 1990s. The Leica SL2 MOT (1974) was the culmination of the original Leicaflexes. The SL2 was reportedly more expensive to produce than the camera's price. The R9, the latest reflex camera by Leica The R9 can be fitted with a digital back Leica M2 Leica M6 Black PaintThe Leica was the first practical 35 mm camera. The first prototypes were built by Oskar Barnack at E. Leitz Optische Werke, Wetzlar, in 1913. Barnack used standard cinema 35 mm film, but extended the image size to 24 x 36 mm. Barnack believed the 2:3 aspect ratio to be the ultimate choice, leaving room for a 36-exposure film length. Barnack's words, "Small negatives -- large images", would soon change the world of photography. The concept was developed further, and in 1923 Barnack convinced his boss, Ernst Leitz II, to make a prototype series of 31. The camera was an immediate success when introduced at the 1925 Leipzig, Germany Spring Fair as the Leica I (for Leitz Camera). The Elmar 50 mm f/3.5 objective (a 4-elements design influenced by the Zeiss Tessar) was designed by Dr. Max Berek at Leitz, and was one of the reasons behind the success of the camera, the others being its compact size and reliability. The focal plane shutter had a range from 1/20 to 1/500 second, in addition to a Z for Zeit (time) position. In 1930 came the Leica I Schraubgewinde with an exchangeable objective system based on a 39 mm thread. In addition to the 50 normal lens, a 35 wide angle and a 135 mm telephoto objective were initially available. The Leica II came in 1932, with a built in rangefinder coupled to the lens focusing mechanism. This model had a separate viewfinder (showing a reduced image) and rangefinder (showing an enlarged double image which was properly focused when it became one image). The Leica III added slow shutter speeds down to 1 second, and the model IIIa added the 1/1000 second shutter speed. Also significant about the IIIa is that it is the last model made before Barnack's death, and therefore the last model he was wholly responsible for. Leitz continued to refine the original design through to 1957. The final version, the IIIg, included a large viewfinder with framelines, similar to the M3 finder, but still with the separate view- and rangefinder. These models all had a functional combination of circular dials and square windows that was quite esthetically pleasing, although somewhat busy in appearance. In 1954 Leitz unveiled the M3, a bayonet lens model, considered by many to be a design miracle for its combination of simple appearance with functional flexibility. It combined the rangefinder and viewfinder into one large, bright viewfinder with a brighter double image in the center, and introduced a system of parallax compensation. In addition, it had a new rubberized focal-plane shutter, which is known for reliability and is probably the quietest focal-plane shutter ever made. This model has continued to be refined (the latest versions being the M7 and MP, both of which have frames for 28, 35, 50, 75, 90, and 135 mm lenses which show automatically upon mounting the different lenses); but the basic quality and simplicity of design has not changed. Leica also produced a series of SLR (single-lens reflex) cameras beginning with the Leicaflex, followed by the SL, the SL2, and then the R series from R3 to R7, which were initially made in collaboration with the Minolta Corporation . They feature electronic shutter, except for the all-mechanical R6, whose only electronic part is the lightmeter. The R8 was re-designed and manufactured by Leica, featuring a larger body and a new, distinctive look. The current model is the R9, which now has an optional Digital Module back. The Leica SLRs were well-received. The optics were excellent, but Leica was slow to produce an auto-exposure model, and never made a version that supported auto-focusing. This and the high price of the optics made them less attractive to working photographers. Leitz was also responsible for numerous optical innovations (first use of aspheric production lenses, first use of multicoated lenses, first use of rare earth lenses, to name a few). From the 30s to the 50s, the Leica competed with the German Contax camera to be most sophisticated and best built camera on market. Leica lenses developed a mythology -- that photographs taken with them were recognizable from photographs taken with other lenses. There has been much controversy about this. Leica optics are particularly well-known for superior performance at maximum aperture, making them well-suited for natural-light photography. Leica has in its stable a particularly remarkable lens, the Noctilux 50 mm f/1.0. Introduced in 1976, this ultra-high speed lens is still being made today. No other lens has matched the Noctilux in its combination of speed, quality and longevity. A number of camera companies built models based on the Leica rangefinder design. These include the Leotax, Nicca and early Canon models in Japan, the Kardon in USA, the Reid in England and the Fed and Zorki in the USSR. Conceptually bridging the Rangefinder Leicas and the SLR Leicas was the Leica Visoflex System, a mirror reflex box which attached to the lens mount of Leica rangefinders (separate versions were made for the screwmount and M series bodies) and accepted lenses made especially for the Visoflex System. Rather than using the camera's rangefinder, focusing was accomplished via a groundglass screen. A coupling released both mirror and shutter to make the exposure. Camera rangefinders are inherently limited in their ability to accurately focus long focal-length lenses and the mirror reflex box permitted much longer length lenses. The earliest Leica reflex housing was the PLOOT, announced in 1935, along with the 200 mm f/4.5 Telyt Lens. This date is significant because that it places Leica among the 35 mm SLR pioneers. Moreover, until the 1964 introduction of the Leicaflex, the PLOOT and Visoflex were Leica's only SLR offerings. A redesigned PLOOT was introduced by Leica in 1951 as the Visoflex I. This was followed by a much more compact Visoflex II in 1960 (which was the only Visoflex version available in both LTM (screwmount) and M-bayonet) and the Visoflex III with instant-return mirror in 1964. Leica lenses for the Visoflex system included focal lengths of 65, 180 (rare), 200, 280, 400, 560, and 800 mm. In addition, the optical groups of many rangefinder lenses could be removed, and attached to the Visoflex via a system of adapters. The Visoflex system was discontinued in 1984. Leica's sometimes arcane catalogue of accessories belies a comprehensive if sometimes haphazard systems approach to photography. As an example, LTM (screwmount) lenses were easily usable on M cameras via an adapter. Similarly Visoflex lenses could be used on the Leicaflex and R cameras with an adapter. Furthermore, certain LTM and M rangefinder lenses featured removable optical groups which could be mounted via adapters on the Visoflex system, thus making them usable as rangefinder or SLR lenses for Visoflex-equipped Screwmount and M rangefinder cameras, as well as being usable on Leicaflex and R cameras. Leica also carried in their catalogues focusing systems such as the Focorapid and Televit which could replace certain lenses' helicoid mounts for sports and natural-life telephotography. Very early examples of Leica cameras and rare accessories are highly sought after by camera collectors and can fetch extremely high prices. Cameras carrying markings that show they were issued to the German army or airforce carry very high premiums. There exist many fake Leica cameras, usually based on Soviet cameras, with the Leica name engraved on the top-plate. Leica cameras, lenses, accessories even sales literature are almost fanatically collected by enthusiasts. There are dozens of Leica books and collector's guides, perhaps the best known is the massive 3-volume Leica an Illustrated History by James L. Lager, a former Leica employee. The Leica Historical Society of America is the largest Leica collector and user group, boasting 2,000 members. In 1986, the Leitz company changed its name to Leica (LEItz CAmera), due to the strength of the Leica brand. At this time, Leica moved its factory from Wetzlar to the nearby town of Solms. In 1996 Leica Camera separated from the Leica Group and became a publicly held company. In 1998 the Leica group split into 2 independent units: Leica Microsystems [1] and Leica Geosystems. The Leica company still produces a range of expensive, very high quality optical products, including compact cameras, M-System rangefinder cameras (direct descendants of the first Leica), R-system single-lens reflex cameras, digital cameras (in association with Panasonic) such as the Leica Digilux 2 / Panasonic DMC-LC1, binoculars, and spotting scopes. List of Leica Cameras and lensesBelow is a list of cameras and lenses produced under the Leica name. C (point and shoot) series
M (rangefinder) series
Leica 35 mm series with interchangeable lens screw mount style Leica bodies:
Leica M series with interchangeable lens bayonet style Leica bodies:
R (SLR) series
Digilux (digital) seriesLeica Digilux 2 Leica D-Lux 2
Leica lenses on PanasonicThe Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ20, a camera fitted with a Vario-Elmar asph 35-421 mm f/2.8.Leica lenses are used on many Panasonic digital cameras and video recorders. These include the Panasonic DMC-FZ10, Panasonic DMC-FZ20, Panasonic DMC-FZ30 models. Leica M lenses
Note: Noctilux is a f/1 or f/1.2 lens, Summilux is a f/1.4 lens, Summicron is a f/2 lens, and Elmarit is a f/2.8 lens in Leica lingo. Leica R lenses
Leica / Leitz enlargers
This page about Leica includes information from a Wikipedia article. Additional articles about Leica News stories about Leica External links for Leica Videos for Leica Wikis about Leica Discussion Groups about Leica Blogs about Leica Images of Leica |
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Note: Noctilux is a f/1 or f/1.2 lens, Summilux is a f/1.4 lens, Summicron is a f/2 lens, and Elmarit is a f/2.8 lens in Leica lingo. See also Webpage (Graphics), PDF (Layers), Mapquest, Google Maps, Google Earth or Yahoo! Maps. These include the Panasonic DMC-FZ10, Panasonic DMC-FZ20, Panasonic DMC-FZ30 models. Navy SEALs and Counter-Strike, that players choose to compete on, as a synonym for level. Leica lenses are used on many Panasonic digital cameras and video recorders. The word "map" has also been used to describe places within video games, such as SOCOM II: U.S. Leica M series with interchangeable lens bayonet style Leica bodies:. For example:. Leica 35 mm series with interchangeable lens screw mount style Leica bodies:. From the computer scientist's standpoint, zooming in entails one or a combination of:. Below is a list of cameras and lenses produced under the Leica name. In-car satellite navigation systems are computerised maps with route-planning and advice facilities which monitor by satellite the position of the user. The Leica company still produces a range of expensive, very high quality optical products, including compact cameras, M-System rangefinder cameras (direct descendants of the first Leica), R-system single-lens reflex cameras, digital cameras (in association with Panasonic) such as the Leica Digilux 2 / Panasonic DMC-LC1, binoculars, and spotting scopes. Interactive, computerised maps are commercially available, allowing users to zoom in or zoom out (respectively meaning to increase or decrease the scale), sometimes by replacing one map with another of different scale, centred where possible on the same point. In 1998 the Leica group split into 2 independent units: Leica Microsystems [1] and Leica Geosystems. Even when GIS is not involved, most cartographers now use a variety of computer graphics programs to generate new maps. In 1996 Leica Camera separated from the Leica Group and became a publicly held company. Much of cartography, especially at the data-gathering survey level, has been subsumed by Geographic Information Systems (GIS). At this time, Leica moved its factory from Wetzlar to the nearby town of Solms. From the last quarter of the 20th century, the indispensable tool of the cartographer has been the computer. In 1986, the Leitz company changed its name to Leica (LEItz CAmera), due to the strength of the Leica brand. This allows the pilots to plot a great-circle route approximation on a flat, two-dimensional chart. The Leica Historical Society of America is the largest Leica collector and user group, boasting 2,000 members. The cone intersects the sphere (the earth) at one or two parallels which are chosen as standard lines. Lager, a former Leica employee. Airplane pilots use aeronautical charts based on a Lambert conformal conic projection, in which a cone is laid over the section of the earth to be mapped. There are dozens of Leica books and collector's guides, perhaps the best known is the massive 3-volume Leica an Illustrated History by James L. Perhaps the best-known world-map projection is the Mercator Projection, originally designed as a form of nautical chart. Leica cameras, lenses, accessories even sales literature are almost fanatically collected by enthusiasts. Maps that depict the surface of the Earth also use a projection, a way of translating the three-dimensional real surface of the geoid to a two-dimensional picture. There exist many fake Leica cameras, usually based on Soviet cameras, with the Leica name engraved on the top-plate. Geological maps show not only the physical surface, but characteristics of the underlying rock, fault lines, and subsurface structures. Cameras carrying markings that show they were issued to the German army or airforce carry very high premiums. The most important purpose of the political map is to show territorial borders; the purpose of the physical is to show features of geography such as mountains, soil type or land use. Very early examples of Leica cameras and rare accessories are highly sought after by camera collectors and can fetch extremely high prices. Maps of the world or large areas are often either 'political' or 'physical'. Leica also carried in their catalogues focusing systems such as the Focorapid and Televit which could replace certain lenses' helicoid mounts for sports and natural-life telephotography. For example, a road map may or may not show railroads, and if it does, it may show them less clearly than highways. Furthermore, certain LTM and M rangefinder lenses featured removable optical groups which could be mounted via adapters on the Visoflex system, thus making them usable as rangefinder or SLR lenses for Visoflex-equipped Screwmount and M rangefinder cameras, as well as being usable on Leicaflex and R cameras. With the end-user similarly in mind, cartographers will censor the content of the space depicted by a map in order provide a useful tool to that user. Similarly Visoflex lenses could be used on the Leicaflex and R cameras with an adapter. In fact, most commercial navigational maps, such as road maps and town plans, sacrifice an amount of accuracy in scale to deliver a greater visual usefulness to its user, for example by exaggerating the width of roads. As an example, LTM (screwmount) lenses were easily usable on M cameras via an adapter. The simple maps shown on some directional road signs are further examples of this kind. Leica's sometimes arcane catalogue of accessories belies a comprehensive if sometimes haphazard systems approach to photography. This is not a cartogram (since there is no consistent measure of distance) but a topological map that also depicts approximate bearings. The Visoflex system was discontinued in 1984. A famous example of a map without scale is the London Underground map, which best fulfils its purpose by being less physically accurate and more visually communicative to the hurried glance of the commuter. In addition, the optical groups of many rangefinder lenses could be removed, and attached to the Visoflex via a system of adapters. Maps which use some quality other than physical area to determine relative size are called cartograms. Leica lenses for the Visoflex system included focal lengths of 65, 180 (rare), 200, 280, 400, 560, and 800 mm. For example, maps designed for the hiker are often scaled at the ratio 1:24,000, meaning that 1 of any unit of measurement on the map corresponds to 24,000 of that same unit in reality; while maps designed for the motorist are often scaled at 1:250,000. This was followed by a much more compact Visoflex II in 1960 (which was the only Visoflex version available in both LTM (screwmount) and M-bayonet) and the Visoflex III with instant-return mirror in 1964. A larger scale shows more detail, thus requiring a larger map to show the same area. A redesigned PLOOT was introduced by Leica in 1951 as the Visoflex I. Many but not all maps are drawn to a scale, allowing the reader to infer the actual sizes of, and distances between, depicted objects. Moreover, until the 1964 introduction of the Leicaflex, the PLOOT and Visoflex were Leica's only SLR offerings. If the map is prepared on a table, to be attached to the ceiling, then on the table it is a mirror image of a normal map. This date is significant because that it places Leica among the 35 mm SLR pioneers. Occasionally a map is on a ceiling, correctly showing directions; in that case, looking up we have in clockwise direction forward, left, backward, and right. The earliest Leica reflex housing was the PLOOT, announced in 1935, along with the 200 mm f/4.5 Telyt Lens. For a vertically positioned map representing a horizontal area true orientation is not possible, of course, but it is sometimes approximated by putting the forward direction up. Camera rangefinders are inherently limited in their ability to accurately focus long focal-length lenses and the mirror reflex box permitted much longer length lenses. The practice of navigating in this way is orienteering. A coupling released both mirror and shutter to make the exposure. If a person is located at an identifiable point within the area of such a map, then the map can be oriented in such a way that every point on the map lies in the same direction as the corresponding point in reality. Rather than using the camera's rangefinder, focusing was accomplished via a groundglass screen. Maps that don't put north at the top:. Conceptually bridging the Rangefinder Leicas and the SLR Leicas was the Leica Visoflex System, a mirror reflex box which attached to the lens mount of Leica rangefinders (separate versions were made for the screwmount and M series bodies) and accepted lenses made especially for the Visoflex System. Conventionally, on most geometrically accurate maps text is upright when the map is oriented with the north up, hence north is identified with the top of a sheet. These include the Leotax, Nicca and early Canon models in Japan, the Kardon in USA, the Reid in England and the Fed and Zorki in the USSR. . A number of camera companies built models based on the Leica rangefinder design. Many national surveying projects have been carried out by the military, such as the British Ordnance Survey (now a civilian government agency internationally renowned for its comprehensively detailed work). No other lens has matched the Noctilux in its combination of speed, quality and longevity. In terms of quantity, the largest number of drawn map sheets is probably made up by local surveys, carried out by municipalities, utilities, tax assessors, emergency services providers, and other local agencies. Introduced in 1976, this ultra-high speed lens is still being made today. Community maps, including GreenMaps, are growing in importance. Leica has in its stable a particularly remarkable lens, the Noctilux 50 mm f/1.0. Road maps are perhaps the most widely used maps today, and form a subset of navigational maps, which also include aeronautical and nautical charts, railroad network maps, and hiking and bicycling maps. Leica optics are particularly well-known for superior performance at maximum aperture, making them well-suited for natural-light photography. This conceit is elaborated in a one-paragraph story by Jorge Luis Borges and Adolfo Bioy Casares, generally known in English as "On Exactitude in Science". There has been much controversy about this. A character notes some practical difficulties with this map and states that "we now use the country itself, as its own map, and I assure you it does nearly as well". Leica lenses developed a mythology -- that photographs taken with them were recognizable from photographs taken with other lenses. Lewis Carroll made this point humorously in Sylvie and Bruno with his mention of a fictional map that had "the scale of a mile to the mile". From the 30s to the 50s, the Leica competed with the German Contax camera to be most sophisticated and best built camera on market. It is, of course, this abstraction that makes them useful. Leitz was also responsible for numerous optical innovations (first use of aspheric production lenses, first use of multicoated lenses, first use of rare earth lenses, to name a few). Because maps are abstract representations of the world, they are not neutral documents and must be carefully interpreted. This and the high price of the optics made them less attractive to working photographers. Harley, Mark Monmonier, and Denis Wood. The optics were excellent, but Leica was slow to produce an auto-exposure model, and never made a version that supported auto-focusing. Even today, maps can be powerful rhetorical tools beyond their purely practical value, and this has been the source of much fruitful map criticism over the last twenty years, notably in the works of J.B. The Leica SLRs were well-received. By contrast, navigational (or "Portolan") charts of the Mediterranean from the same period are remarkably accurate. The current model is the R9, which now has an optional Digital Module back. Medieval "T-O" maps, for example, show Jerusalem at the centre of the world, and in some cases related the "body" of the Earth to the body of Christ. The R8 was re-designed and manufactured by Leica, featuring a larger body and a new, distinctive look. Pre-modern maps, and mapping traditions outside the Western tradition, often merge geography with non-scientific cosmography, showing the relationship of the viewer to the universe. They feature electronic shutter, except for the all-mechanical R6, whose only electronic part is the lightmeter. While we tend to think of maps today as products of a rationalistic, scientific world-view, maps also have a mythic quality. Leica also produced a series of SLR (single-lens reflex) cameras beginning with the Leicaflex, followed by the SL, the SL2, and then the R series from R3 to R7, which were initially made in collaboration with the Minolta Corporation . 142]. This model has continued to be refined (the latest versions being the M7 and MP, both of which have frames for 28, 35, 50, 75, 90, and 135 mm lenses which show automatically upon mounting the different lenses); but the basic quality and simplicity of design has not changed. [Harvey 2000, p. In addition, it had a new rubberized focal-plane shutter, which is known for reliability and is probably the quietest focal-plane shutter ever made. One of the oldest surviving maps is painted on a wall of the Catal Huyuk settlement in south-central Anatolia (now Turkey); it dates from about 6200 BC. It combined the rangefinder and viewfinder into one large, bright viewfinder with a brighter double image in the center, and introduced a system of parallax compensation. Map-making dates back to the Stone Age and appears to predate written language by several millennia. In 1954 Leitz unveiled the M3, a bayonet lens model, considered by many to be a design miracle for its combination of simple appearance with functional flexibility. The science and art of map-making is cartography. These models all had a functional combination of circular dials and square windows that was quite esthetically pleasing, although somewhat busy in appearance. Most usually a map is a two-dimensional, geometrically accurate representation of a three-dimensional space. The final version, the IIIg, included a large viewfinder with framelines, similar to the M3 finder, but still with the separate view- and rangefinder. A map is a simplified depiction of a space, a navigational aid which highlights relations between objects within that space. Leitz continued to refine the original design through to 1957. http://www-gap.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/HistTopics/Cartography.html. Also significant about the IIIa is that it is the last model made before Barnack's death, and therefore the last model he was wholly responsible for. Andrews University, 2002. The Leica III added slow shutter speeds down to 1 second, and the model IIIa added the 1/1000 second shutter speed. Scotland : St. This model had a separate viewfinder (showing a reduced image) and rangefinder (showing an enlarged double image which was properly focused when it became one image). Robertson, The History of Cartography. The Leica II came in 1932, with a built in rangefinder coupled to the lens focusing mechanism. and E.F. In addition to the 50 normal lens, a 35 wide angle and a 135 mm telephoto objective were initially available. O'Connor, J.J. In 1930 came the Leica I Schraubgewinde with an exchangeable objective system based on a 39 mm thread. Mark Monmonier, How to Lie with Maps, [ISBN 0226534219]. The focal plane shutter had a range from 1/20 to 1/500 second, in addition to a Z for Zeit (time) position. [ISBN 0767908260, cited above; also ISBN 0375501517]. Max Berek at Leitz, and was one of the reasons behind the success of the camera, the others being its compact size and reliability. New York : Random House, 2000. The Elmar 50 mm f/3.5 objective (a 4-elements design influenced by the Zeiss Tessar) was designed by Dr. Miles Harvey, The Island of Lost Maps: A True Story of Cartographic Crime. The camera was an immediate success when introduced at the 1925 Leipzig, Germany Spring Fair as the Leica I (for Leitz Camera). David Buisseret, ed., Monarchs, Ministers and Maps: The Emergence of Cartography as a Tool of Government in Early Modern Europe. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1992, [ISBN 0226079872]. The concept was developed further, and in 1923 Barnack convinced his boss, Ernst Leitz II, to make a prototype series of 31. For a single raster graphics image (2) applies until the pixels in the image file correspond to the pixels of the display, thereafter (3) applies. Barnack's words, "Small negatives -- large images", would soon change the world of photography. The map may also have layers which are partly raster graphics and partly vector graphics. Barnack believed the 2:3 aspect ratio to be the ultimate choice, leaving room for a 36-exposure film length. Similarly, a road represented by a double line may or may not become wider when one zooms in. Barnack used standard cinema 35 mm film, but extended the image size to 24 x 36 mm. Text is not necessarily enlarged when zooming in. Leitz Optische Werke, Wetzlar, in 1913. (1) may apply to the text (displaying labels for more features), while (2) applies to the rest of the image. The first prototypes were built by Oskar Barnack at E. (2) may apply to text and (3) to the outline of a map feature such as a forest or building. The Leica was the first practical 35 mm camera. The increase in detail is, of course, limited to the information contained in the file: enlargement of a curve may eventually result in a series of standard geometric figures such as straight lines or arcs of circles. . Typically (2) applies to a Portable Document Format (PDF) file. Leica Microsystems AG is the owner of the Leica brand, and grants licenses to Leica Camera AG and Leica Geosystems. A variation of this method is that interpolation is performed. The company, formerly Ernst Leitz Gmbh, is now three companies: Leica Camera AG, Leica Geosystems AG, and Leica Microsystems AG, which produce cameras, geosurvey equipment and microscopes, respectively. enlarging the same map with the pixels enlarged (replaced by rectangles of pixels); no additional detail is shown, but, depending on the quality of one's vision, possibly more detail can be seen; if a computer display does not show adjacent pixels really separate, but overlapping instead (this does not apply for an LCD, but may apply for a cathode ray tube), then replacing a pixel by a rectangle of pixels does show more detail. Leica is a camera produced by a German company of the same name. enlarging the same map without enlarging the pixels, hence show more detail. 1978-1995. replacing the map by a more detailed one. Leitz/Leica Focomat V35 - autofocus - 40 mm f/2.8 Focotar lens - colour or Multigrade (variable contrast) heads. Medieval European T and O maps such as the Hereford Mappa Mundi were centred on Jerusalem, with East at the top. ELCAN 20 mm enlarger lens (40x-75x enlargements) - Extremely rare. Labels on the map are oriented in such a way that you cannot read them properly unless you put the imperial palace above your head. ELCAN 52 mm enlarger lens (20x-25x enlargements) - Extremely rare. Old maps of Edo show the Japanese imperial palace as the "top," but also at the centre, of the map. Vincent electrical shutter (for enlarger) - Extremely rare. Other modern maps put south on top, generally either out of a sense of playful confusion or to make a political statement about the North-South divide. Leitz Focomat II (modified for American millitary), code EN-121A - Extremely rare. These are primarily intended as novelty and tourist maps. Available in "color" version with filter drawer and lighted enlargement factor scale. To someone used to seeing the map the other way around, this map may appear to be "upside down". Only very slender enlarging lenses will for the IIc helicals. Some rectangular maps produced in Australia show the south pole at the top. Kienzle or other colour heads sometime fitted. Dymaxion maps. All the 6 cm and 60 mm Focotars appear to be the same optical design. Polar maps. First produced with Focotar 6 cm f/1:4.5 and focotar 9.5 cm f/1:4.5, later with Focotar 60 mm and V-Elmar 100 mm f1:4.5, still later with Focotar 60 mm and Focotar II 100 mm f/1:5.6. Leitz Focomat IIc - 35 mm-6x9 formats, dual lens stage rather than turret, autofocus. Available in "color" version with filter drawer and lighted enlargement factor scale. The early version has a single helical that will accommodate lenses of any make. Leitz Focomat IIa - 35 mm-6x9 format, dual lens turret on later versions that fitted a 5 cm Elmar f/1:3.5 or Focotar f/1:4.5, and a 9.5 cm f/1:4.5 Focotar, autofocus. Many small design variations exist. Available in "color" version with filter drawer and lighted enlargement factor scale. The 1C helical will accommodate lenses of various makes. The 50 mm exists in two versions. The Focotar-2 is always the same formula, and so is the 5 cm version. Changes in Focotar name or focal length designation do not necessarily coincide with the optical formula. Produced first with Varob 5cm f1:3.5 lenses, later with Elmar 5cm f1:3.5, focotar 5cm f1:4.5, focotar 50 mm f/1:4.5, focotar 50 mm 2nd version f/1:4.5, Focotar-2 f/1:4.5. Leitz Focomat Ic - sometimes fitted with Kienzle colour head. Leitz Focomat Ib. Leitz Focomat Ia - Same as Focomat 1C, that is with autofocus, but the head does not tilt back to allow for easy insertion of negative. Leitz Valoy and Valoy II - manual focus, later versions of the Valoy II were grey in colour. Leica 105-280 mm f/4.2 Vario-Elmar-R zoom. Leica 80-200 mm f/4.0 Vario-Elmar-R zoom. Leica 80-200 mm f/4.5 Vario-Elmar-R zoom. Leica 75-200 mm f/4.5 Vario-Elmar-R - 1976-1984. Leica 70-210 mm f/4.0 Vario-Elmar-R zoom. Leica 35-70 mm Vario-Elmarit-R ASPH zoom - 2000 (only 200 was made). Leica 35-70 mm f/3.5 Vario-Elmar-R zoom. Leica 35-70 f/4.0 Vario-Elmar-R zoom. Leica 70-180 mm f/2.8 Vario-APO-Elmarit-R zoom. Leica 28 mm-70 mm f/3.5-f/4.5 Vario-Elmar-R zoom. Leica 21 mm-35 mm f/3.5-f/4.0 Vario-Elmar-R zoom - 2002. Leica modular APO-Telyt-R 400/560/800 head. Leica modular APO-Telyt-R 260/400/560 head. Leica 800 mm f/6.3 Telyt-S - 1972-1995 (sold including a free VW Fox). Leica 560 mm f/5.6 Telyt-R - 1966-1973. Leica 560 mm f/6.8 Telyt-R - 1971-1995. Leica 500 mm f/8 MR-Telyt-R. Leica 450 mm f/5.6 Elcan-R, code C-329 - Extremely rare. Leica 400 mm f/2.8 APO-Telyt-R - 1992-1996. Leica 400 mm f/5.6 Telyt-R. Leica 400 mm f/6.8 Telyt-R - 1968-1994. Leica 350 mm f/4.8 Telyt-R. Leica 280 mm f/2.8 APO-Telyt-R - 1984-1997. Leica 280 mm f/4.0 APO-Telyt-R. Leica 280 mm f/4.8 Telyt-V. Leica 250 mm f/4.0 Telyt-R 2nd version. Leica 250 mm f/4.0 Telyt-R 1st version -. Leica 180 mm f/3.4 Elcan-R code C-303 - Extremely rare. Leica 180 mm f/2.0 APO-Summicron-R. Leica 180 mm f/2.8 APO-Elmarit-R - 1998. Leica 180 mm f/3.4 APO-Telyt-R - 1975-1998. Leica 180 mm f/2.8 Elmarit-R 2nd version. Leica 180 mm f/2.8 Elmarit-R 1st version. Leica 180 mm Elmar-R - 1976. Leica 135 mm f/2.8 Elmarit-R 2nd version. Leica 135 mm f/2.8 Elmarit-R 1st version - 1965. Leica 100 mm f/2.8 APO-Macro-Elmarit-R. Leica 100 mm f/4.0 Macro-Elmar-R helical version. Leica 100 mm f/4.0 Macro-Elmar-R bellows version. Leica 90 mm f/1.0 Elcan-R - Extremely rare. Leica 90 mm APO-Summicron-R ASPH - 2002. Leica 90 mm Summicron-R 2nd version -. Leica 90 mm Summicron-R 1st version - 1969. Leica 90 mm f/2.8 Elmarit-R 2nd version - 1983. Leica 90 mm f/2.8 Elmarit-R 1st version - 1964-1996. Leica 80 mm f/1.4 Summilux-R. Leica 75 mm f/2.0 Elcan-R code C-341 - Extremely rare. Leica 60 mm Macro-Elmarit-R dn2 version. Leica 60 mm Macro-Elmarit-R 1st version - 1972 - outside bayonet lens hood fitting. Leica 50 mm f/1.4 Summilux-R 3rd version - 1997 (ROM contacts). Leica 50 mm f/1.4 Summilux-R 2nd version. Leica 50 mm f/1.4 Summilux-R 1st version. Leica 50 mm f/2.0 Summicron-R 2nd version - 1977 - built-in lens hood, 3-cam and R-cam only version. Leica 50 mm f/2.0 Summicron-R 1st version - 1964. Leica 35 mm f/1.4 Summilux-R. Leica 35 mm f/2.0 Summicron-R 2nd version - 1976. Leica 35 mm f/2.0 Summicron-R 1st version - 1970. Leica 35 mm f/2.8 Elmarit-R 3rd version. Leica 35 mm f/2.8 Elmarit-R 2nd version. Leica 35 mm f/2.8 Elmarit-R 1st version - 1964. Leica 35 mm f/4.0 PA-Curtagon-R (Schneider-Kreuznach design). Leica 28 mm f/2.8 Elmarit-R 2nd version - 1994. Leica 28 mm f/2.8 Elmarit-R 1st version - 1970. Leica 28 mm PC-Super-Angulon-R (Schneider-Kreuznach design). Leica 24 mm f/2.8 Elmarit-R. Leica 21 mm f/3.4 Super-Angulon-R - 1968 (Schneider-Kreuznach design). Leica 21 mm f/4.0 Super-Angulon-R - 1968-1992 (Schneider-Kreuznach design). Leica 19 mm f/2.8 Elmarit-R 2nd version - 1990. Leica 19 mm f/2.8 Elmarit-R 1st version. Leica 16 mm f/2.8 Fisheye-Elmarit-R - 1970. Leica 15 mm f/2.8 Super-Elmarit-R ASPH - 2001. Leica 15 mm f/3.5 Super-Elmar-R - 1980 (Carl Zeiss design). 28-35-50 mm f/4. Tri-Elmar-M Asph. Macro-Elmar-M 90 mm f/4. Apo-Telyt-M 135 mm f/3.4. Elmarit 135 mm f/2.8. Elmarit-M 90 mm f/2.8. 90 mm f/2. Apo-Summicron-M Asph. 75 mm f/2. Apo-Summicron-M Asph. Summilux-M 75 mm f/1.4. Elmar-M 50 mm f/2.8 (collapsible). Noctilux-M 50 mm f/1. Summicron-M 50 mm f/2. 50 mm f/1.4. Summilux-M Asph. 35 mm f/2. Summicron-M Asph. 35 mm f/1.4. Summilux-M Asph. Elmarit-M 28 mm f/2.8. 28 mm f/2. Summicron-M Asph. 24 mm f/2.8. Elmarit-M Asph. 21 mm f/2.8. Elmarit-M Asph. R8/R9 DMR Digital Module R (DSLR). Digilux 2. Digilux 1. D-Lux 2. D-Lux. Digilux 4.3. Digilux Zoom. Digilux. R8/R9 DMR Digital Module-R - 10 megapixel digital back for the R8/R9, making them the first 35 mm SLR cameras able to capture to film or digitally. R9 - refinement of the R8 with 100g less weight and a new anthracite body finish. All traces of Minolta gone. R8 - complete redesign, this time in-house with production moved back to Germany. R7 - 1992 - yet more advanced electronics. R6.2 - 1992- as R6 but with refinements, including a 1/2000th shutter speed. R6 - 1988-92 mechanical shutter, relied on battery power only for the built-in light meter. R5 and R-E - 1987 - revised electronics (R5 had TTL flash capability), the RE was a simplified model. Leica R4 [2]. The R4 offered The R4S and R4S Mod2 were simplified models at slightly lower prices. The R4MOT differed in designation only; all R4s and up accepted motors and winders. The R4 offered Program mode, Aperture and Shutter Priority, and Manual, with Spot and Centerweighted metering. The R4 set the design for all cameras up to and including the R7. R4MOT/R4/R4S/R4S Mod2 - 1980 - 1987 a new compact model based upon the Minolta XD11. The first few were built in Germany and then production was transferred to the Leitz Portugal factory. R3 - the first electronic Leitz SLR - 1976 to 1980, based upon the Minolta XE1/7. The SL2 would also be the last mechanical Leica SLR for 14 years. The SL2 was the swan-song of the Leicaflexes; the SL2 reportedly cost Leitz more to manufacture than it recouped in sales, and motivated the company to collaborate with Minolta for their next series of electronic cameras. Only about 1,000 SL2 MOTs were made. The Leica Solms museum has on display an SL2 MOT with Motor and 35 mm Summicron which survived a 25,000 foot fall from a Phantom II fighter jet: battered but in one piece, and deemed repairable by Leica. Thought by some to be the toughest 35 mm SLR ever built. Leicaflex SL2/SL2 MOT - 1974 - refinement of the SL with more sensitive light meter and improved body shape. Only about 1,000 SL MOTs were made. MOT model took a large and heavy motor drive. Leicaflex SL and SL MOT - 1968 - TTL selective-area metering, slightly taller body than its predecessor, long-lived and lovely to use. There was a great deal of pressure to introduce a Leica SLR because of the phenomenal success of the Nikon F (1959). Leicaflex - 1964/5 - sometimes called the Standard - built-in external light meter, clear focusing screen with centre ground-glass spot. Program to facilitate custom-built combinations of metal finish, leather type, viewfinder magnification, and custom engraving. A La Carte Program 2004 - present. The new MP is available in chrome and black paint and with viewfinders of .58, .72 and .85 magnification. The Leicavit M is an accessory introduced with the new MP, allowing trigger wind with the right hand at speeds up to 2-2.5 frame/s. A notable improvement over the M6 was the modification of the rangefinder to eliminate flare. A homage to the original MP, the new MP (this time standing for "Mechanical Perfection") cosmetically resembles the original (even down to changing the rewind crank back to a knob!) but is functionally closer to the M6 Classic. MP - 2003 - current model (as of 2005). Same taller top plate and counter-clockwise shutter dial as the M6 TTL. Comes in .58, .72, and .85 viewfinder formats, each with different brightline framelines. Has TTL exposure, aperture priority and manual exposure, electronic shutter and two mechanical speeds of 1/60 and 1/125. M7 2002 - current model (as of 2005). The added electronics added 2 mm of height to the top plate, and the shutter dial was reversed from previous models (traditionally, turning clockwise increased shutter speed). Supported TTL flash. From 2000 the .58 viewfinder camera for eyeglass wearers are added to the line. With .72 and .85 viewfinder versions. M6 TTL - 1998 - 2002. Only 3,130 of these cameras were made (all black chrome), so they are among the rarer non-commemorative M6's. The 28 mm framelines are dropped in this model. The M6 could be optionally ordered with a .85 magnification viewfinder for easier focusing with long lenses and more accurate focusing with fast lenses, such as the 50 mm f/1.0 Noctilux and 75 mm f/1.4 Summilux. M6 0.85 - 1998. Notable for its introduction of the 0.85 magnification finder, the first high-magnification finder since 1966, and the basis for the 0.85 cameras to follow starting in 1998. A collector's edition of 1,640 cameras to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Leica M System. M6J - 1994. Informally referred to as the M6 "Classic" to distinguish it from the "M6 TTL" models, and to indicate its "Classic" M3 dimensions. A breakthrough camera, finally combining the M3 form factor with a modern, off-the-shutter light meter with no moving parts and LED arrows in the viewfinder. M6 - 1984 - 1998. Added rangefinder framelines for the 28 mm and 75 mm lenses. M4-P - 1980 - 1986. Made in Canada. No self-timer. First M with hotshoe for electronic flash. With stronger gears for the adaptation of a motor drive. First M to be manufactured since 1975. M4-2 - 1977 - 1980 (17,000 sets were manufactured). Minolta later manufactured and sold an improved electronic version, the Minolta CLE with Auto Exposure, Off-The-Film TTL metering and TTL Flash metering, together with three M-Rokkor lenses, the 40 mm f/2, 28 mm f/2.8 and 90 mm f/4. The CL is also notable for being the only M-bayonet camera to have a vertically-traveling shutter. Internal metering similar to the M5--CDS cell on a swinging stalk. Also known as the Minolta CL, Leitz-Minolta CL, introduced with 2 lenses special to that model: the 40 mm Summicron-C f2 and 90 mm Elmar-C f4. CL - 1973 - 1976 (the compact Leica). With the M4, last M camera to have a self-timer. These restrictions also held true for the Leica CL (below). For similar reasons, collapsible lenses could not be collapsed on the M5. Certain wide angle lenses (early 21 mm f4.0 and f3.4) could not be used in the camera without modification because of the possibility of damage to the rear element of the lens or the meter arm. The added functionality required a redesigned, larger body compared with the traditional M3 dimensions. First Leica with a light meter, a mechanical swinging-arm CDS cell positioned behind the lens. With added integral TTL lightmeter. M5 - 1971 - 1975 (31,400 sets were manufactured). With the M5, last M camera to have a self-timer. Introduced the canted rewind crank (the previous Ms had rewind knobs). With added rangefinder framelines for 35 mm and 135 mm lenses. M4 - 1967 - 1975 (50,000 sets were manufactured); 1974 -1975 (6,500 sets were manufactured). In 1965 replaced by the MD (with no viewfinder at all), and the MDa (based on the M4) (1967), and finally the MD-2 (based on the M4-2) (1980). A stripped version of the M2 for scientific/technical use, the M1 was a viewfinder camera with no built-in rangefinder. M1 - 1959 - 1964 (9,392 sets were manufactured). The M2 lacked the self-resetting film frame counter of its predecessor. The 0.72 magnification became the standard viewfinder magnification for future M cameras. A scaled-down and lower-cost version of the M3, the M2 had a simplified rangefinder of 0.72 magnification, allowing easier use of 35 mm lenses. M2 - 1958 - 1967 (88,000 sets were manufactured). MP originally stood for "M Professional"; the camera was intended to be a photojournalist's camera. The original MP was based on the M3 and could be fitted with a Leicavit trigger winding device. MP - 1956 - 1957 (Total 402 sets were manufactured). Early M3s lacked a frame preview selector lever to switch between framelines. The M3 advanced film via a lever rather than knob, the first M3s required two strokes to advance the film, after 1958 M3's were single-stroke. The price of this high magnification was that a 35 mm lens required "goggles" which fit in front of the view/rangefinder windows to facilitate a wider view. The M3 has a .92 magnification finder, the highest of any M camera made. In an advertisement from 1956, it was regarded as a "lifetime investment in perfect photography"; a statement that has proven to be true after more than fifty years since its release. It was the first of the M series Leicas that are still manufactured today - the first interchangeable lens bayonet style Leica body. M3 - 1954 - 1966 (Total 200,000 units manufactured) The M3 was introduced at the German Foto Kina exhibition in 1954. Leica IIIg - Produced till 1960 (Total 798,200 screwmount cameras had been made by then). Leica incorporates flash synchronization and a self timer. Leica IIIf - 1950. Leica incorporates fast shutter speeds to the shutter design. Leica IIIa - 1935. Leica incorporates slow speeds to the shutter design in this model. Leica III - 1933. Leica introduces the rangefinder in the camera with this model. Leica II - 1932. From 1930 with interchangeable lenses. Followed by Leica Luxur and Leica Compur (a total of 60,586 was made of the Leica I, Luxur and Compur). Leica I - was introduced first time to the market at the 1925 spring fair in Leipzig, based on the Ur-Leica prototype developed by Oscar in 1913 and the Prototyp 1 developed in 1923. Leica CM Zoom. Leica CM 40 mm. Leica Minilux Zoom. Leica Minilux 40 mm. C3. C2. C1. Z2X. |